wilcox



May 25 1926. 1,586,135

E. c. WILCOX GAS ENGINE IGNITER Filed Sept. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 I in I ,f C) o I q 0 ""0 O 6 e. wjwNTOR a BY E g ATTORNEY May 25 1926.

E. C. WILCOX GAS ENGINE IGNITER Filed Sept. 12, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I 1 VENTOR ATTORNEY Patented May 25, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ERNEST C. WILCOX, OF MERIDEN, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR TO THE CONNECTICUT TELEPHONE & ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF MERIDEN', CONNECTICUT,

A CORPORATION OF CONNECTICUT.

GAS-ENGINE IGNITER.

Application filed September 12, 1923. Serial No. 662,202.

My invention relates to an igniterand is especially adapted for application to the well known Ford automobile.

It is an object of the invention to provide a very simple, yet eflicient and durable, igniter'which may be readily applied to a standard Ford car.

It is another object to provide an igniter which may be mounted directly on the engine cam shaft.

It is a further object to provide an igniter in which provision is made for preventing the passage of oil along the engine cam shaft and into the igniter. 1

Other objects and the features ofthe invention will be apparent as the specification proceeds.

In the drawings, which show, forillustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention 7 Fig. 1 is a partially diagrammatic end elevation of an internal combustion, engine and illustrates the application of an igniter embodying the features of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the parts shown in Fig. 1; v

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view on an enlarged scale of an igniter embodying features of my invention;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged perspective view of a detail Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one side of an improved breaker plate;

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the breaker plate.

In said drawings, 1 indicates generally an internal combustion engine which, in this case, is the engine usually installed in Ford cars- These engines are commonly provided with the gear case cover 2 through which the engine cam shaft 3 projects- The gear ease cover 2 in the present instance is provided with a bearing surface 4' which, in this case, is adapted to receive a laterallyextending peripheral flange 5 on the breaker plate 4. The flange 5 preferably extends above the plate 4 as well as below it, and the upwardly extending portion of the flange serves as a bearing seat 6 for the distributor cap or cover 7, means such as the leaf spring 8, may be secured to the plate 2 by means of a bolt 9, and may bear against the top of the igniter cap or cover for holding the igniter cap and other parts in place. The distributor cap herein shown is more specifically described and claimed in my copending application, Serial No. 662,204, filed September 12, 1923.

The main engine cam shaft, as has been before stated, extends through a suitable aperture in the gear case cover 2 and through a corresponding aperture in the breaker plate 4. The extreme end of the cam shaft preferably extends well up into the distributor cap 7 On the outer or front side of the breaker plate is mounted a movable contact or breaker arm 10, which is urged in-oue direction by the spring 11, so as to bring the movable contact point 12 into contact with the fixed contact point- 13. The fixed contact or point 13 is preferably mounted on a plate or arm '14, which is rigidly secured to the plate 4 by means, such as rivets 15. In the preferred form the arm 14, and consequently the pin 13. are insulated from the plate 4 by means of a strip of fibre or other insulation 16. The movable point 12 is preferably grounded through the arm 10 to the plate4.

In the present instance the upwardly extending peripheral flange on the breaker plate is cut away to permit passage of the outer end of the arm 14, and the outer end preferably extends a substantial distance beyond the breaker plate so as to receive an electrical conductor 16 (Fig. 1). In the present instance the distributor cap 7 is slightly recessed at its lower peripheral edge, so as to fit over the arm 14 and cause the breaked plate and the distributor cap to move in unison.

In order to actuate the breaker arm 10. the main engine cam shaft 3 is provided with a breaker cam 17. In the preferred form the breaker cam 17 has a rearwardly projecting sleeve 18 having thereon an annular ring-like projection 19, which is for the purpose of centrifugally throwing off any oil which may creep along the cam shaft and which would otherwise probably reach the inside of the i itefi As will be clear from Fig. 3, the 011 slinger 19 is arranged in rear of the breaker plate, so that oil thrown from the shaft 3 will be caught at the rear of the breaker plate and before reaching the front thereof. For the pur- September 12, 1923.

pose of conductin' away the oil thrown r 0d" by the projection 19, the rear of the breaker plate may be provided with a radial groove 20, and this groove should, of course, be arranged in a substantially vertical position. 1 At the front endof the cam 17 there may be a second sleeve-like extension 21, and this sleeve, in the form' shown, has an aperture 22 to receive a pin 23 which extends into an aperture (not shown) in the shaft for non-rotatably positioning the cam and associated parts on the shaft. The distributor head, in the form shown, has a metallic sleeve 24: which fits over the cam sleeve 21, and, if desired, the sleeve24 may have a recess 24' for the reception, of the pin 23, which holds the cam in place on the shaft, and also serves as a key for the said head. The sleeve 24; may also hold the pin 23 in placeagainst retraction. The distributor head shown herein is more specifically described and claimed in my co-pend, ing application, Serial No, 662,203, filed In the form shown the distributor cover 7 is provided with an extension lever 25 for the reception of the usual advance lever mechanism 26. .When the advance lever mechanism 26 is actuated, the distributor cap and the breaker plate are moved in unison to advance or retard the spark.

The electrical connections from the igniter to the coil and condenser unit 27 and to the battery 28 are diagrammatically shown, but since these'connections are the usual igniter connections, it is'thought that detailed explanation thereof is unnecessary It will be seen that the igniter herein described is very simple. yet serviceable and cheap to manufacture. The mechanism c -s1sts,of few parts, of sturdy construction, and

all'of the parts are very readily assembled and disassembled. The construction is applicable to existing forms of Ford engines,

' and may be substituted in place of the usual Ford timer mechanism without substantial changes in the Ford engine construction.

While I- have gone into some detail in describing a preferred form of the invention, Ido not wish to be limited thereto,

shaft and serving to key me ias like projection thereon at one end and a and fixed and movable contacts on said plate, one of said contacts being mounted on a rigid arm secured to said plate and extendingv beyond the periphery thereof and adapted to receive an electrical connection.

5. An an article of manufacture, a breaker plate for an igniter, including a substantially disk-like member, fixed and movable contacts mounted on one side. of said disk-like member, a peripheral flange on said disk-like member extending from both sides thereof, and a rigid arm mounted on said disk-like member and extending beyond the periphery thereof for receiving an electrical connection. said armat its inner end carrying one of said contacts.

6. In an igniter, a cam shaft, a cam on said shaft and having an integral sleeve extension, a distributor head on said extension, and a pin for securing said cam to said said distributor head on said sleeve extension.

ERNEST o. WILcox. 

